Volatile Growth Inhibitors Produced by Salvia leucophylla: Effect on Seedling Growth and Respiration

Volatile materials, primarily terpenes, emanating from leaves of Salvia leucophylla greatly inhibit root growth, hypocotyl growth, and the production of lateral roots in germinating herb seeds. Cineole, one of the Salvia terpenes, severely retards respiration of excised herb roots and intact seedlings. It is suggested that these inhibitory effects result in poorly established seedlings which succumb readily to environmental stress, thus producing the patternings observed in the field around Salvia thickets.